4 Overview Established twenty years ago, the Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program provides a substantial source of Federal support for research at minority-serving institutions across the United States. By facilitating research projects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines with multi-year, multi-million dollar cooperative agreements, the main goal of CREST and its awardees is to build the research competitiveness of minority-serving institutions while increasing the recruitment and retention of individuals from diverse backgrounds in STEM study and STEM-based careers. To date, more than 25 long-term, large-scale projects have received CREST funds. The variety and scope of these CREST projects encompass nearly every traditional STEM discipline and seek to advance human knowledge by defining innovative new areas of study. Each CREST project strives to build upon the state of the art in its particular research areas, while at the same time bringing these advancements to the next generation of STEM practitioners and the general public. A particular emphasis is placed upon increasing the recruitment and retention of historically underserved populations in quality STEM study and productive, fulfilling STEM careers. To this end, CREST sites are expected to complement their research efforts with innovative new education programs and to forge lasting, mutually beneficial links to other learning institutions, regional industries and national laboratories. In this way, each Center becomes a vital, contributing part of the local community that will continue to benefit the national interest long after Federal support has ended. The cutting-edge practices and human capital involved in CREST projects also make these projects an attractive means for recruiting new intellectual talent and garnering international recognition for U.S. scientific research. To bring the principles of CREST to a more focused group of eligible schools, the program has begun support for the initiative, Historically Black Colleges and Universities-Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (HBCU-RISE). Although CREST began making provisional HBCU-RISE awards in FY 2002, the first full HBCU-RISE competition was not held until FY After 4 annual proposal competitions, 13 institutions have received HBCU-RISE funds. The list of CREST awards is as diverse and engaging as the communities these projects have served and continue to support. This publication summarizes the CREST projects supported since FY 1987 and describes the current cohort of awardees. As a nation, we have much to learn from them, collectively and individually. Note: Awards tabulated and detailed on pages 6 to 26 are listed chronologically by award number. Further information on CREST awards can be found at: by using the award number(s) indicated. For updates on current CREST activities and deadlines, visit the program Web page at: 4

5 Program History The CREST program represents a substantial portion of the National Science Foundation s investment in research at minority-serving institutions. The CREST program has the goal of strengthening the national research competitiveness of minority-serving institutions as well as increasing the number of underrepresented minorities awarded master s and Ph.D. degrees in STEM fields. Funded at levels of between $8.7 million and $17.8 million annually, CREST represents a substantial portion of the National Science Foundation s (NSF s) investment in research at minority-serving institutions. Center awards, issued via a cooperative agreement with the lead institution, are typically funded for up to $1 million per year for up to 5 years. Centers that successfully complete one cycle of CREST funding are eligible to compete for a second cycle of funding. A number of past CREST awardees have qualified for a renewal and have graduated from the program after 10 years of CREST support, the maximum currently allowed. CREST s ability to make awards is contingent upon the NSF budget and program s annual funding appropriations. Consequently, only 8 competitions for CREST awards have been held since the program s inception. Two CREST awards were made in Fiscal Year (FY) 1987, four in FY 1988, two in FY 1991, four in FY 1997, and four in FY The FY 2002 CREST competition resulted in the renewal of two Centers and the award of three new Centers, the FY 2003 competition resulted in four renewals and two new Center awards, the FY 2004 competition resulted in three new Center awards and the FY 2006 yielded four new Center awards. During this interval, nine Centers completed one cycle of CREST funding, with eight of these eventually completing two cycles (10 years) of program support. In FY 2002, CREST additionally began supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Research Infrastructure for Science & Engineering (HBCU-RISE) with the intent of increasing the production of minority Ph.D.s in science, mathematics and engineering. CREST responds to each of NSF s four strategic outcome goals Discovery, Learning, Research Infrastructure and Stewardship as detailed in the Strategic Plan ( ), online at Since 2001, CREST researchers have published more than 650 manuscripts and made hundreds of research presentations in 14 countries. From 2001 to 2003 alone, some 272 degrees were awarded to CREST participants. Over the same interval, the participation of minority students in CREST projects increased from 18 percent to 27 percent and the participation of female students in CREST projects increased from 31 percent to 37.5 percent. Faculty and postdoc participation demonstrated similar positive gains as a result of CREST support. Note: CREST and HBCU-RISE are institutional awards. CREST applicants must be minority-serving institutions. HBCU-RISE applicants must be accredited Historically Black Colleges or Universities in the United States or its territories. Interested applicants should consult the U.S. Department of Education s Office of Civil Rights (online at: to confirm their institution s eligibility for CREST or HBCU-RISE. 5

6 Center for Systems Science Research NSF Award: & Institution: Tennessee State University John Merritt Boulevard, Nashville, TN Contact: Leehyun Keel, Center of Excellence Information Systems. Phone: (615) ; fax: (615) ; Internet: Tennessee State University s Center for Systems Science Research (CSSR) combines a diverse portfolio of activities, ranging from mathematical modeling to Astronomy. The project includes components from Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. The research base established by CSSR continues to produce new knowledge, techniques and discoveries. In 2006, CSSR researchers led an international team that discovered a planet around the star HD The new planet s structure is so unique it challenges currently established theories for planet formation. Such discoveries directly enhance research and education opportunities. During the project s first 4 years, CSSR personnel published 171 articles, 139 of which were in refereed journals or included in conference proceedings. Over the same period, the Center has supported an average of 35 undergraduate and 7 graduate African-American students per year. Support for both graduates and undergraduates has averaged over $200,000 per year for various combinations of tuition, fees, room and board, and stipends. Students present their work at the TSU university-wide research symposium and at the NSF/NASA/TSU student research symposium. Students have also been co-authors with CREST researchers on journal articles and conference papers. In the Fall 2001 semester, the university began enrolling students in the newly established Ph.D. program in Computer Information Systems Engineering, which is housed in the College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science. Selected Publications Adetona, O Robust adaptive control of nonaffine nonlinear plants with small input signal changes. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks, Volume 15. Paulson, DB, SH Saar, WD Cochran and GW Henry Searching for planets in the Hyades III: The quest for shortperiod planets. Astrophysical Journal, Volume 127. Sathananthan, S and LH Keel Convergence and stability of stochastic hereditary iterative processes. Dynamics of Continuous, Discrete and Impulsive Systems, Volume 11. Tao, Y and R Moreno A 3-D Micro network piping convective heat sink with NPCM suspension fluid. Journal of Heat Transfer, Volume During the project s first 4 years, CSSR personnel published 171 articles, of which 139 were in refereed journals or included in conference proceedings.

7 Center for Advanced Materials and Smart Structures NSF Award: & Institution: North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. IRC Building, Room 242, Greensboro, NC Contact: Jagannathan Sankar, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Phone: (336) ; fax: (336) ; Internet: Nanoscale science and technology is expected to revolutionize nextgeneration technology ranging from structural materials to smart structures and from microelectronics to medicine. North Carolina A&T State University s Center for Advanced Materials and Smart Structures (CAMSS) conducts research in three areas: nanoengineered and surface-engineered coatings and materials; nanocomposites and other innovative composites; and electronic and smart materials and structures. Structural ceramics have unique properties that can be used to great advantage in advanced high-temperature applications. Innovative ceramic composites are also being developed for use in high-temperature applications, wear-resistant materials, and novel sensor and smart-structure applications. Nanoscale science and technology is expected to revolutionize nextgeneration technology ranging from structural materials to smart structures and from microelectronics to medicine. CAMSS seeks to continue the promotion of advanced materials engineering as a unifying research and education discipline, including the development of new curricula and the recruitment of talented undergraduate and graduate students from ethnic and economic groups historically underrepresented in science and technology. More than 260 students have participated in CAMSS since 1998 and 82 are currently enrolled in CAMSS activities. In the past year, 40 percent of the institution s Ph.D. graduates (7 of 17) came from CAMSS. Center participants have now published more than 65 peer-reviewed articles, delivered 73 international conference presentations and registered two patents. The Center is a state and national educational and research resource in the field of advanced materials and their composites, developing research programs with a focus on student participation and learning. Selected Publications Kumar, D, SJ Pennycook, J Narayan, H Wang and A Tiwari Role of Silver addition in the synthesis of high critical current density MgB 2 bulk superconductors, Superconductor Science and Technology, Volume 16(4). Neralla, S, D Kumar, S Yarmolenko and J Sankar Mechanical properties of nanocomposite metal-ceramic thin films. Composites, Part B: Engineering, Volume 35(2). Xu, Z, J Sankar and S Yarmolenko Yttria-stabilized zirconia coatings produced using combustion chemical vapor deposition. Surface and Coatings Technology, ,

8 Synthesis, Manufacturing and Characterization of Structural Nanocomposites NSF Award: & Institution: Tuskegee University. Tuskegee Institute, AL Contact: Shaik Jeelani, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Phone: (334) ; fax: (334) ; Internet: The Tuskegee University Center for Innovative Manufacturing of Advanced Materials has succeeded in stimulating and producing cutting-edge materials research in the study of nanoparticle-polymer interactions. The Tuskegee CREST has also assembled a diverse team of researchers to study the entire spectrum of technology related to the synthesis, Tuskegee s Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering was launched within a year of establishing its CREST Center. fabrication and characterization of structural nanocomposites. With CREST support since 1997, extensive scientific, technical, and educational advances have been made in each of the research areas of the project. Tuskegee s Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering was launched within a year of establishing the CREST Center. Twenty-one master s students and 25 undergraduate students have completed their research under the CREST program and have graduated from the university; 12 students are currently enrolled in the project. A majority of students in the program are African Americans and one-third are female. Sixty refereed publications in journals and conference proceedings have resulted from the research performed with CREST support. The project also involves collaborative research and education activities with Auburn University, Purdue University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of South Alabama. In addition, scientists at Boeing, Raytheon, TRW, the Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA s Marshall Space Flight Center and the University of Wisconsin. Selected Publications Kanny, K Static and dynamic characterization of polymer foams under shear loads. Journal of Composite Materials, Volume 38. Mahfuz, H Fabrication, synthesis and mechanical characterization of nanoparticles infused polyurethane foams. Composites-Part A, Volume 35. Thomas, T Dynamic compression of sandwich composites at sub-ambient temperatures. Journal of Composite Materials, Volume 38. 8

9 Center for Photonic Materials Research NSF Award: & Institution: Norfolk State University. 700 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA Contact: Carl E. Bonner, Jr., Center for Materials Research. Phone: (757) ; fax: (757) ; Internet: The CPMR project has dramatically improved the research competitiveness of the physical sciences faculty and helped in building NSU s national recognition in the field of photonic materials. Norfolk State University (NSU) is the home of the Center for Photonic Materials Research (CPMR), which focuses on the fields of photonics and nanotechnology. The Center complements and strengthens the ongoing research and educational projects at NSU in the key areas of photonics, spintronics and nanomaterials by enhancing the research potential of existing faculty, providing capital equipment, student-support resources and adding tenure track and research faculty. These improvements will enable the university to sustain its advanced materials research and engineering activities beyond the duration of CREST support. A particular achievement of the Center has been to increase the number of underrepresented minority students interested in these fields prepare and them for positions of leadership in emerging areas of science and technology. The project has initiated a Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering that builds upon the strength of the existing master s program in Materials Science. NSU will also develop master s programs in Optical Engineering and Electronics Engineering. The CPMR project has dramatically improved the research Selected Publications Ibrahim, W, CE Bonner, Jr., H El-Sayed Ali and M Shinn Femtosecond damage threshold of multi-layer metal films. International Journal of Heat Transfer, Volume 47. Noginova, N, and V Atasarkin NMR and spin relaxation in LaGa1-xMn xo 3 : Evidence for thermally activated internal dynamics. Physics Review B, Volume 69. Noginov, M, M Bahoura, G Zhu and I Fowlkes GaAs random laser. Laser Physics Letters, Volume 1. Sun, S Improving opto-electronic efficiency via bridged donor and acceptor block copolymers. Poly Materials Science and Engineering, Volume 90. competitiveness of the physical sciences faculty and helped in building NSU s national recognition in the field of photonic materials. During the past 4 years of CREST support alone, more than 100 research publications and presentations have been produced by CPMR faculty and students, including 26 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Thirty-four graduate and 43 undergraduate students have been supported by CPMR projects. 9

10 Computational Center for Molecular Structure and Interactions NSF Award: & Institution: Jackson State University J.R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS Contact: Jerzy Leszczynski, Department of Chemistry. Phone: (601) ; fax: (601) ; Internet: The Computational Center for Molecular Structure and Interactions (CCMSI) at Jackson State University (JSU) develops efficient computational methodologies and their application to the study of structures and the properties of molecules. CCMSI faculty conduct collaborative research on the structures and properties of molecules ranging from nanoscale systems to large biomolecules. The JSU CREST has been recognized for its innovative leadership in computational chemistry at the national and international levels through peerreviewed journals, conferences and prestigious awards. Over 8 years of CREST support, CCMSI personnel have generated 412 research papers, 16 books, 500 presentations, 3,000 citations, and 48 invited talks.the Center has published 50 to 60 papers per year in leading peer-reviewed journals in addition to giving 50 to 90 presentations at national and international conferences. Many of these efforts were co-authored by undergraduate and graduate students. the program expects to graduate three to five students per year, positioning JSU among the nation s largest producers of African-American Ph.D.s in Selected Publications Cain, D, DM Pawar and EA Noe Conformational studies of trans-cycloheptene, trans-cycloheptene oxide and trans-bicyclo [5.1.0] octane by ab initio calculations. Theochem, Volume 674. Deng, T and M Huang Capillary electrophoretic separation and theoretical study of inclusion complexes of sulfobutyl ether a-cyclodextrin with estrogens. International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, Volume 100. Gorb, L, Y Podolyan, P Dziekonski, WA Sokalski and J Leszczynski Double-proton transfer in adeninethymine and guanine-cytosine base pairs. A Post-Hartree- Fock ab initio study. Journal of the American Chemical Society, Volume 126. Xiao, C, J Blundell, F Hagelberg and WA Lester, Jr Silicon clusters doped with an yttrium metal atom. International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, Volume chemistry. CCMSI has also graduated 8 Ph.D.s and 6 MS students, 50 percent of whom are African American. The JSU CREST has been recognized for its innovative leadership in computational chemistry at the national and international levels through peer-reviewed journals, conferences and prestigious awards. CCMSI students have benefited from networked research collaborations with more than 18 countries worldwide. Over the past 4 years, the Department of Chemistry at JSU has become the most research-active STEM department in Mississippi and ranks among the nation s top producing HBCU Chemistry departments.

11 Center for Environmental Analysis (CEA-CREST) NSF Award: & Institution: California State University State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA Contact: Carlos D. Robles, Department of Biological Sciences. Phone: (323) ; fax: (323) ; Internet: CEA-CREST researchers formulated a spatially explicit model of marine predator-prey dynamics, providing an alternative to hypotheses that prevailed as general theory for more than three decades. The Center for Environmental Analysis CREST (CEA- CREST) is conducting multidisciplinary environmental research under the theme of Spatially Structured Dynamics. CEA-CREST researchers have made a series of novel discoveries in Environmental Science. As one example, CEA-CREST researchers formulated a spatially explicit model of marine predator-prey dynamics, providing an alternative to hypotheses that prevailed as general theory for more than three decades. Over the first 4 years of the project, CEA-CREST faculty s refereed publications increased 153 percent, from 17 to 43; presentation of abstracts increased 138 percent, from 16 to 38; and total grant dollars (not including the CREST award) increased 33 percent, from $2.07 million to $2.73 million. Fourteen CEA-CREST fellows graduated in the program s first 4 years, with 11 of these entering Ph.D. programs. To date, 26 CEA-CREST Graduate Fellows have graduated, 17 of whom have been accepted to Ph.D. programs, many at University of California campuses. Of the 17 Ph.D. candidates, 14 were from underrepresented minority groups and 3 were Caucasian women. Nine of the CEA-CREST graduates entered agency careers rather than Ph.D. programs, and 6 of the 9 were from underrepresented groups. To open more educational opportunities for the diverse pool of CEA-CREST student fellows, the Center has revised an existing interdisciplinary master s degree program and is establishing a joint doctoral degree with the University of California. CEA-CREST has formed other partnerships with major national research centers, including the University of California at Santa Barbara and several other schools in the region. Other CEA-CREST collaborators include Cornell University, Oak Crest Institute of Science (Pasadena, CA), Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the California Institute of Technology. Selected Publications Hibbs, B and C Eastoe Binational study of the surface and groundwater resources of the El Paso/Juarez international corridor. Water Resources Update, Volume 125. Hibbs, B and C Eastoe Hydrogeological and isotopic study of the Hueco Bolson aquifer, El Paso/Juarez Mexico area. Hydrological Science and Technology, Volume 19. Stow, D and J Gamon Remote sensing of vegetation and land-cover change in Arctic Tundra ecosystems. Remote Sensing of Environment, Volume

12 NSF Award: Institution: CUNY City College. Convent Avenue at 140th Street, New York, NY Contact: Charles B Watkins, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Phone (212) ; fax: (212) ; Internet: Center for Mesoscopic Modeling and Simulation The City University of New York City College s Center for Mesoscopic Modeling and Simulation (CMMS) focuses on physicochemical modeling, simulation and analysis of several distinct but physically related condensed matter and materials systems. Classical mechanics cannot completely describe complex macroscopic systems; The common, thematic areas of modeling research within CMMS s research areas provides a framework for the Center s educational activities. at the atomic level, quantum interaction theory is intractable for complex molecules and ensembles. For these reasons, mesoscopic mathematical models must be devised as the tools for understanding macroscopic and microscopic behavior. Many of these models involve similar features, such as combinations of semi-empirical and exact formulations and inclusion of quantum effects. The common, thematic areas of modeling research within CMMS s research areas provides a framework for the Center s educational activities. Such activities have included formal computational science courses, seminars, internships and training in parallel and distributed processing systems administration. Selected Publications Akins, D, G Haiquan, W Xu and X Zhang Spectroscopy and dynamics of DCM encapsulated in MCM- 41 and Y Zeolite mesoporous materials. Journal of Molecular Structure, Volume 689. Andreopoulos, Y A new laser vorticity probe, LAVOR: its development and validation in a turbulent boundary layer. Experiment in Fluids, Volume 34. Since beginning its CREST award in FY 2002, CUNY has teamed with diversity partners such as Lehman College and the CUNY Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) and Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) projects, further expanding the research and educational opportunities for students in these networks. Hammonds, J The effect of laser light propagation through a self-induced inhomogeneous process gas on temperature-dependent laser-assisted chemical etching. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Volume 46. Xanthos, S and Y Andreopoulos Boundary layer separation induced by successive favorable and adverse pressure gradients. Journal of Visualization, Volume

13 NSF Award: Institution: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. PO Box 21489, San Juan, PR Contact: Elvira Cuevas, Department of Biology. Phone: (787) ext ; fax: (787) ; Internet: The CREST Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation (CATEC) at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras focuses on four levels of biological organization: individuals and their genes, populations, ecosystems and landscapes. The Center promotes research programs in the particular areas of: Molecular Ecology, Evolution and Genetics; Species Population Management; Landscape Ecology; and Ecosystem Processes with the goal of training a new generation of scientists in applied ecology and conservation, and to better integrate university research activities with societal needs. The Center is designed to create a research environment where multidisciplinary groups work together to solve the complex environmental problems facing the tropics, with particular emphasis in the Caribbean. In 2005 alone, CATEC generated 31 publications, 18 research presentations, 6 collaborative projects; 3 activities and garnered 14 proposals aand awards among 14 faculty and 71 students. CATEC graduate students have benefited from research experiences at partner locations including Duke University, North Carolina State University, the Smithsonian Tropical Institute, and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Medellin (Medellin, Colombia).. Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation at the University of Puerto Rico The Center is designed to create a research environment where multidisciplinary groups work together to solve the complex environmental problems facing the tropics, with particular emphasis in the Caribbean. Selected Publications Bayman, P, EJ Gonzales, JJ Fumero and R Tremblay Are fungi really necessary? How fungicides affect growth and survival of the orchid, Lepanthes rupestris, in the field. Journal of Ecology, Volume 90. Melendez-Ackerman, E, C Calisto-Perez, M Morales-Vargas and J Fumero-Caban Post-hurricane recovery of a herbaceous understory plant in a tropical rain forest in Puerto Rico. Journal of Tropical Ecology. Volume 19. Santiago-Valentin, E and S Aragon Phylogenetics of the Antillean Goetzeoideae (Solanaceae) and their relationships within the Solanaceae based on chloroplast and ITS DNA sequence data. Systematic Botany, Volume 28: Soucy, S, T Giray and D Roubik Solitary and group nesting in the orchid bee, Euglossa hyacinthine. Insects Sociaux, Volume

15 Graduated Center Awards Table 1: Graduated and Current CREST Awards Materials Science Research Center of Excellence Howard University & Meharry Medical College Research Center of Excellence in Membrane Biology Meharry Medical College & Puerto Rico Center of Excellence in Tropical and Caribbean Research University of Puerto Rico & Center for Analysis of Structures and Interfaces (CASI) City University of New York & Center of Excellence in Nonlinear Optics and Nonlinear Optical Materials Alabama A&M University & Materials Research Center of Excellence University of Texas, El Paso & Center for Theoretical Studies of Physical Systems Clark Atlanta University & Nuclear/High Energy Physics (NuHEP) Research Center of Excellence Hampton University & Michael Spencer George Hill Reinaldo Caban Daniel Akins Alton Williams Arturo Bronson Alfred Msezane Cynthia Keppel Current Center Awards Center for Systems Science Research Tennessee State University & Leehyun Keel Center for Advanced Materials and Smart Structures North Carolina A&T State University & Jagannathan Sankar Synthesis, Manufacturing and Characterization of Structural Nanocomposites Tuskegee University & Shaik Jeelani Center for Photonic Materials Research Norfolk State University & Carl Bonner Computational Center for Molecular Structure and Interactions Jackson State University & Jerzy Leszczynski Center for Environmental Analysis (CEA-CREST) California State University, Los Angeles & Carlos Robles Center for Mesoscopic Modeling and Simulation City University of New York City College Charles Watkins Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation at the University of Puerto Rico University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Elvira Cuevas Research on the Environmental Sustainability of Semi-Arid Coastal Areas (RESSACA) Texas A&M University, Kingsville Kuruvilla John Center for Nanomaterials Characterization and Processing Technology Howard University James Mitchell Center for Emerging Technologies for Advanced Information Processing and High-Confidence Systems Florida International University Yi Deng Center for Research Excellence in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology New Mexico State University Desh Ranjan Center for Excellence in Physics and Chemistry of Materials Fisk University Warren Collins Center for Forest Ecosystems Assessment Alabama A&M University Robert Taylor Center for Astrophysical Science and Technology Florida A & M University Charles Weatherford Center for Laser Science and Spectroscopy (CLASS) Hampton University Doyle Temple Center for Research and Education in Optical Sciences and Applications Delaware State University Nouriddine Melikechi Center for Functional Nanoscale Materials Clark Atlanta University Ishrat Khan 15

16 Research on the Environmental Sustainability of Semi-Arid Coastal Areas (RESSACA) NSF Award: Institution: Texas A&M University, Kingsville. Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering, Kingsville, TX Contact: Dr. Kuruvilla John. Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering, MSC 213. Phone: (361) ; fax: (361) ; Internet: Texas A&M University, Kingsville (TAMUK) is the lead institution for the Research on Environmental Sustainability of Semi-Arid Coastal Areas (RESSACA) project. The Center s principal research areas are: Environmental Systems Modeling (ESM), Environmental Informatics (EI), and Living Laboratories for Academics and Research (LLAR). The LLAR, in particular, provides multi-scale integrated academic and research field facilities for environmental assessment in semi-arid coastal zones within South RESSACA provides a forum for minority student enrollment in graduate-level disciplines pertaining to environmental engineering, the integration of research and education, and the translation of environmental research to public policy and economic development. Texas. The data generated are utilized in ESM and EI applications and are transferred into educational domains from kindergarten through graduate school and to the general public. RESSACA provides a forum for minority student enrollment in graduate-level disciplines pertaining to environmental engineering, the integration of research and education, and the translation of environmental research to public policy and economic development. To date, RESSACA has funded 45 students including 9 Ph.D., 10 MS, and 26 undergraduate students; in 2006 the project s began graduating its first cohort of Ph.D.s in Environmental Engineering as TAMUK has become a major producer of Hispanic students in this field. Selected Publications Chang, N-B Compatibility analysis of material and energy recovery in a regional solid waste management system (Year 1). Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, Volume 53. Clapp, L Evaluation of polyethylene hollow-fiber membranes for hydrogen delivery to support reductive dechlorination in a soil column (Years 1 & 2). Water Research, Volume 37. Jones, K and A Martinez Kinetic evaluation of H 2 S and NH 3 biofiltration for two media used for wastewater life station emissions (Year 2). Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, Volume 54. RESSACA is an interdisciplinary research center that supports partnerships with education, research, government and private entities to conduct and disseminate research findings. Partner institutions include: Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Texas A&M International University, Laredo; The University of Texas, El Paso; The University of Texas, Pan American; The University of Texas, Brownsville; the University of Arizona; the San Diego Supercomputer Center; and CREST projects in Alabama, California, and Puerto Rico. 16

17 Center for Nanomaterials Characterization Science and Processing Technology NSF Award: Institution: Howard University Sixth Street, NW, Washington, DC Contact: James W. Mitchell, Department of Materials Science. Phone (202) ; fax: (202) ; Internet: The Center s discoveries and development of new tools provide increased exposure to research and educational opportunities for minority students, particularly in the fundamental aspects of Materials Chemistry. Howard University s CREST Center for Nanomaterials Characterization Science and Processing Technology (NCSPT) focuses on the verification of directed synthesis and development of methods for fabricating new nanomaterials with clearly definable chemical identities and technologically useful properties. Characterization research clarifies the unexpected chemical transformations that nanomaterials undergo during the generatation of nanostructured devices. The Center s discoveries and development of new tools provide increased exposure to research and educational opportunities for minority students, particularly in the fundamental aspects of Materials Chemistry. Four courses derived from NCSPT s research have been initiated at Howard. These include Frontiers in Nanosciences Research and Engineering, which introduces a variety of majors to nanotechnology, and Computational Methods in Chemistry, which is taught to chemistry and mechanical engineering students. Additionally, NCSPT faculty partnerships have been forged with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Naval Research Lab, Johns Hopkins University, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the University of Maryland College Park, the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan State University, Bluewave Semiconductor, The University of Texas at El Paso, Boeing Corporation, Princeton University, and the Army Research Lab. Selected Publications Baruah, T, RR Zope, SL Stevenson and MR Pederson Electronic structure, vibrational stability, and predicted infrared-raman spectra of the As clusters. Journal of Chemical Physics, Volume 121. Harris, G and L Salamanca-Riba Systematic study of effects of growth conditions on the size and shape of GaN single crystals grown by a direct reaction of Ga with ammonia. Journal of Applied Physics, Volume 94. Mitchell, J Stability of silver nanoparticles in aqueous and organic media. NNIN REU Research Accomplishments Conference Proceedings, Volume 8. 17

18 Center of Emerging Technologies for Advanced Information Processing and High-Confidence Systems NSF Award: Institution: Florida International University. Miami, FL Contact: Yi Deng, School of Computer Science. Phone: (305) ; fax (305) ; Internet: The FIU Center serves as a resource for the education of students underrepresented in STEM and is a gateway to research and education opportunities in Latin and South America. The Center of Emerging Technologies for Advanced Information Processing and High-Confidence Systems, or ETECH, is managed jointly by the School of Computer Science and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Florida International University (FIU). By applying a robust and powerful computing capability, ETECH combines four distinct but related research areas, including: 1. highperformance mapping and data modeling; 2. high-confidence, reactive software systems; 3. real-time assistive technologies for persons with visual impairments, blindness or motor disabilities; and 4. information processing of signal and imaging techniques in neuroscience. Real-world applications of this project portfolio are as diverse as: improved diagnosis and understanding of epilepsy and autism, highresolution mapping and data modeling, disaster modeling and mitigation, homeland security and improved real-time visual, spatial and audio navigation for persons with disabilities. A cornerstone of these efforts is Terrafly (www.terrafly.com), an Internet browser-based geographical information application with a capacity of more than 30 billion data overlayments. ETECH s mission is to become a leading center of education and research in advanced information processing and high-confidence systems through integration of emerging technologies with real-world applications and significant societal impact. So far this work has inspired 180 research papers, 3 patents and 5 graduate-level courses based on such work, 11 Ph.D. graduates and a number of joint faculty appointments. FIU also hosts an annual Engineering Gala, attended by 1,000 to 1,500 invited highschool students, an initiative that is paying dividends in increased enrollment and retention. The FIU Center also serves as a resource for the education of students underrepresented in STEM and is a gateway to research and education opportunities in Latin and South America. ETECH now produces some 20 percent of the nation s computer science Ph.D.s among Hispanic students. As a major partner of the Latin American Grid project, FIU students work collaboratively with 1,000 networked machines in Spain, Mexico, and Argentina. FIU students are also involved in mentoring programs and internships with IBM executives in the United States. In Florida, ETECH has fostered partnerships with Miami Children s Hospital and others in conducting innovative biomedical research and the development of assistive technology. 18

19 NMSU is among the first minorityserving institutions with a research center for Bioinformatics and has the first such program in New Mexico. Center for Research Excellence in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology NSF Award: Institution: New Mexico State University. Las Cruces, NM Contact: Desh Ranjan, Department of Computer Science. Phone: (505) ; fax: (505) ; Internet: The Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCB) at New Mexico State University (NMSU) is dedicated to the discovery of information technology to facilitate the understanding of biological processes. Its areas of focus include the extraction of knowledge from bomplex biological sources, computational methods to improve protein structure prediction, and the determination of functionally important parts of genomes. The Center combines the complementary expertise of a team of researchers from Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Agriculture to advance the state of the art in BCB. It also integrates cuttingedge research in BCB with the creation of educational opportunities for a diverse body of students and researchers. The educational effort provides new research-oriented courses and training, and culminates with the development of a master s degree in BCB as well as outreach efforts targeting local high schools and community colleges. The Center also supports specific research projects and activities aimed at developing a general infrastructure for research and education in BCB. NMSU is one of the few minority, Hispanic-serving, research-extensive institutions with comprehensive science, technology and engineering programs. With this CREST award, NMSU is among the first minority-serving institutions with a research center for Bioinformatics and has the first such program in New Mexico. The Center greatly boosts the BCB research and educational activities at NMSU, acting as a catalyst for the creation of a comprehensive BCB program. It provides educational and training opportunities for students from high school to graduate school and from diverse backgrounds, increasing the access to careers in BCB by underserved populations. The proposed research also has the potential to impact disciplines such as medicine and agriculture, expanding the broader societal benefits of the Center s work. The NMSU CREST serves a diverse student population with a large proportion of Native Americans and Hispanics. The NMSU Center builds on the existing infrastructure to enhance minority participation in science and technology and extends its impact by providing access to academic excellence in BCB. NMSU programs such as Native American Pathways, the National Institutes of Health Bridge in Biomedical Sciences, the NMSU National Institute of General Medical Sciences Minority Access to Research Careers program, and the NSF-funded NM-AMP, NM-ADVANCE and NM-AGEP programs have also committed their support to the development of the BCB Center at NMSU. 19

20 Center for Excellence in Physics and Chemistry of Materials at Fisk University NSF Award: Institution: Fisk University Seventeenth Avenue North, Nashville, TN Contact: E. Warren Collins, Physics Department. Phone: (615) ; fax (615) ; Internet: The Center for Excellence in Physics and Chemistry of Materials (CPCoM) at Fisk University integrates highquality science education with state-of-the-art research in the areas of: preparation of amorphous materials; crystal growth of optical materials; preparation of nanophase materials; thin-film deposition; surface characterization; linear and non-linear optics; laser spectroscopy; and the fabrication and implementation of Fisk University and its partners are committed to increasing the number of scientists from historically underrepresented populations in order to provide a diverse group of graduate practitioners in STEM. materials in sensors, devices and subsystems. Over the course of CREST support, it is hoped that CPCoM will develop into an internationally recognized research center. Education of undergraduates and graduates is a vital component of the Center. Fisk University and its partners are committed to increasing the number of scientists from historically underrepresented populations in order to provide a diverse group of graduate practitioners in STEM. Student research experiences at CPCoM will include laboratory experimentation and modeling. Undergraduate students supported by the Center are encouraged to participate in summer research experiences at Fisk, national laboratories, industry facilities and other universities, including participation in summer semesters at doctorate-granting institutions. The project extends its outreach activities to high schools in Nashville and to HBCUs in Tennessee and neighboring states. Agreements made with Vanderbilt University and Carnegie Mellon University provide Fisk CPCoM project graduates with opportunities beyond the master s degree as Fisk builds the academic foundation and intellectual climate to develop a quality Ph.D. program of its own. 20

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